Location Middle East; Eastern Coast of the Arabian Peninsula, in the South Western part of the Arabian Gulf

Geographic Coordinates Between the latitudes of 22° and 26.30° North and longitude of 51° and 56.30° east.

Total Area 83.6 thousand sq. Kms

Boundaries Oman 410 Kms; Saudi Arabia 457 Kms

Climate Desert . Cooler in eastern mountains

Coastline 1,318 Kms

Population 3.754 million (As per 2002 estimate)

Government Type Federation with specific powers delegated to the UAE. Federal Government and other powers reserved to the member Emirates

Administrative Division 7 Emirates - Abu Dhabi , Dubai , Sharjah, Ajman, Umm Al Quwain, Ras Al Khaimah, Fujairah

Capital Abu Dhabi

Independence 2nd December 1971 (from UK )

Legal System Federal Court system introduced in 1971; all the emirates except Dubai and Ras Al Khaimah have joined the federal system; all emirates have secular and Islamic law for civil, criminal and high courts.

Languages Arabic (official), Persian, English, Hindi and Urdu

Currency Arab Emirates Dirhams (AED)

Political Parties None

GDP AED 260.6 billion (2002)

*Inflation Rate 2.8% consumer Price (2002)

Market Exchange Rate US$ 1.00 = AED 3.67

Major Trading Partners Japan , China , USA , UK , India , Pakistan , Iran , South Korea , Germany , Italy

Major Export Products Crude Oil, Natural Gas, Re-Exports, Aluminium, Dried Fish, Dates

Major Import Products Manufactured Goods, Machinery, Foodstuff, Transportation Equipment

Taxation No Corporate, withholding or personal taxation

Customs Duty 5% Import Duty